SMART FORTWO test drive since 2012 coupe

And pony also horses

Smart: Little relative Mersedes
In major cities of Europe, the overwhelming majority of the inhabitants prefer to move on compact and yurk cars. And why, in fact, carry the air and suffer from parking? Ko tested the two youngest serial cars Smart and Daewoo Matiz. According to the test results, I can say that these are the most mobiles from all the types of individual transport. Faster in Moscow, you can travel unless on something two-wheeled.
In the yam, Nikk, in the mink of Smyg. That is how in a nutshell, I would describe my feelings from SMART of the most unusual serial car of our time. A trip on this car is more than a banal movement from point A to point B. This is a real attraction, a dazzling bright and exciting spirit.
The first thing that comes to mind at the sight of this car is: Lord! But how can you fit into this crumb taking?! SMART length is only 2.5 m, width 1.5 m, height 1.55 m, weight 720 kg. The machine is so compact that it can be parked perpendicular to the sidewalk, and with standard accommodation on the area occupied by the same Volga, two SMARTs fit. However, inside the car you do not feel at all the notorious frog in the box. SMART gives the driver and passenger. Feeling safety and space. This impression occurs because of a very wide torpedo: to reach the bottom edge of the windshield, you will have to get a little from the chair. The internal space is visually expanding and due to the fact that thanks to the large area of \u200b\u200bglazing (even the roof of the car is made transparent) Smart literally flooded with light.
The feeling of calm inspires and exposed a car scatter. Metal body supporting elements are painted in a silver color that emphasizes the elements of passive SMART security. A interior decoration and outdoor bodybar from plastic contrast with a frame on texture and color.
In general, it is felt that the SMART designers from the skin climbed so that the car from the inside was more than outside. And they succeeded. Two adult men under 100 kg of weight, sitting in this car, will not feel in something disadvantaged. There is a lot of space and for luggage: small things can be squeezed through the dashboard niches, large shelves are located under the windshield, and the trunk itself is able to accommodate four beer box. True, designers responsible for the Ergonomics of the cabin, forgot people in the growth of the average. Neither the steering wheel nor the car seat in height is not regulated.
Dream came true: a toy car rides truly
Behind the wheel Smart feel like a driving of an expensive toy car. Toy not size, but in spirit.
The front panel is made in the form of two curved horizontal consoles, which are combined by the microclimate control unit. In the center, as if small periscopes, a tachometer sticks out and analog clock, on the sides of the ventilation system nozzles. The vertical rack under the bottom console can be at its discretion to string an additional equipment as an ashtray, cup holders, boxes for small things, etc. Fabric upholstery of the front panel looks harmonious: it is made of the same material covered by the seat.
By the way, if you wish, you can order Smart with a leather interior. Such cars, in particular, produces a Brabus tuning atelier. But in the Smart standard, it is quite well staffed: electric windows, air conditioning, tachometer, analog clock, radio tape recorder, alarm system, two airbags (you can additionally order two more), alloy wheels, ABS, Traction Control, automatic transmission.
I do not even know what is more pleasant and more fun to sit behind the wheel of this car or admire it outside. Smart rare guest in Moscow highways, and it is a pity an additional portion of smiles in our traffic jams is not excess.
This car has the qualities of chameleon. All its body panels are made of plastics. The kit is worth about $ 1400. If you get tired of riding, say, on a black car, you can buy plastic panels of another color. After a simple surgery to replace them (this is done in a couple of hours) it seems that you bought another car. Plastic parts, by the way, are not repaired, but are fully replaced.
However, enough to discuss the car in statics. The key to the start (the ignition lock here is located like Saab at the gear lever)! Adventure began. If you do not drop the speed before irregularities, then riding the Smart will be similar to Rodeo shakes mercilessly. Periodically creates the feeling that the car is completely deprived of the suspension. Therefore, it is better to pass the road irregularities, the benefit of the sharp steering wheel (without a hydraulic agent) allows.
Smart does not apply to the category of models sat down and drove: it is necessary to get used to the car. The main thing at first to deal with the gear shift system.
For the sake of SMART compactness, equipped with a cunning six-speed gearbox, in which electric drives are controlled by clutch and transmission. That is, the driver has two gas and brake pedals. The role of the left leg, squeezing the clutch, performs an electric motor, and the signal to the beginning of its operation is the movement of the gear shift lever.
You can switch the speeds manually by sharing the lever from yourself (prompt transmission) and to yourself (downward transmission). And you can set the automatic gear selection mode. But even at the same time, to move from a place, little to release the brake pedal (as it usually happens on cars with an ordinary automatic box) We still need to press the gas pedal. With such an algorithm of work, the PPC is very inconvenient to get into the slide: only you start to endure the right leg with the brake pedal on gas, as the car begins to roll back. Therefore, to start well to master the reception of the arsenal of the racers who brake left legs.
If you entrust the gear shift machine, then the passenger will surely think that the car runs the newcomer from the driving school. With each switch, the driver and passenger are inclined in Japanese greeting. The retardation of the machine is so great that sometimes you are afraid of doing overtakes. Therefore, it seemed to me much more convenient to switch transmissions in manual mode. But this reception must be learned.
There is a window in the instrument panel, which displays the transmission modes. With automatic mode (when the letter A is displayed on the display) everything is clear (see above). If the transmission is shifted manually, the numbers correspond to the selected speed appear in the window. At the same time, the electronics suggests when it is necessary to take the lever. If the smart machine offers to go to an increase, then an arrow appears on the screen, and if the downward arrow rotates down.
So, to ride smoothly, without jerks, and most importantly, actively, you do not need to look at this arrow. Switching the transfer it follows what is called, for rumor, the good engine sings its song loud. There is another nuance. When overclocking, when the gearbox operates in manual mode, the transmission must be connected constantly, but when braking the tricky box itself includes downward transmissions.
What to say, an intricate algorithm. However, it must be mastering, otherwise, some unpleasant sensations will be left from SMART. But, as soon as you find a common language with a wisdom box, the car starts to start. In the third gear, it accelerates under 100 km / h. For more calm drivers there are economical fifth and sixth gears. Three-cylinder motor with a volume of 0.6 l and a capacity of 45 hp Instantly spinned to the maximum 6000 revolutions (then the limiter is turned on). This allows Smart to do not only nine on traffic lights, but also some adult foreign cars. At the same time, a short-wing car confidently keeps straight. At the limit speed of 130 km / h (limited by electronics) you do not feel any discomfort. The main thing is not to fall on the colors of the waves of asphalt, and if it brought on them, then hold on to the ram, the driver.
According to SMART management, something resembles racing cards. You are so waved to scatter into the needle ear between any Kamazami. But to get involved in steep turns at high speeds. If you do not calculate the speed of entry into the rotation, then thin front wheels will be reduced into slide. For the previous course, the car will return only with the speed of speed. However, the equospace system is saved from extreme situations (installed in standard) and ABS with electronic control brake force.
Manufacturers call SMART all-season car. In Europe, it produces winter rubber kits, anti-skid circuits and even trunks for the transportation of snowboards in summer on this car to ride Moscow fun. In winter, I think, just like it.
If we talk about the prospects of this small car seriously, in Europe SMART sold successfully. Its production began at the end of 1998, and in the first two years about 200,000 cars were sold. And in the first quarter of this year, Daimlerchrysler even comes with a lead of the schedule sold 28,400 Smart. Moreover, 9,000 cars were implemented in Germany, another 8500 in Italy. The model is becoming increasingly popular in England and Japan.
The choice of Europeans is clear: with very uncomplicable appearance and decent riding qualities, the car is very economical. For example, in England, he was officially recognized as the most profitable car in terms of operating costs. Its owners spend only 11 cents per 1 km of machine run.
As for Russia, then the SMART is unlikely to be sold not that thousands, but even hundreds. According to some reports, in two years the capital found their owners of only about 40 chambers. No one wants to buy a car worth more than $ 14,000 (in Europe SMART sold in less than $ 10,000) only for saving on gasoline. About the appearance of our official SMART dealer in our country is not yet. There is no worthy service. But, I think, SMART cars in Moscow will increase over time: it hurts a crown machine. The main thing to learn how to play it right.
Igor Komarov
 

A source: Wheel (Company)